I went over to Youngstown Ohio around ten to take advantage of the lower gas prices. As I stepped out to insert my card, a car with three black males in their early 20s pulled up in a late model buick regal. Not to be stereotypical, but they were all dressed in typical banger attire, with one exception that really stood out to me: each one wore a black hat that was facing the right way and pulled down low. This struck me as odd.

One went into the store and walked around and appeared to be looking at everything and nothing at the same time. I saw the guy inside throw a thumbs up to the guys outside. One guy got in the driver seat and started the car.

The other guy started to walk toward the store entrance, walking about 5 feet away from me. As he walked by I saw him glance at me. I was turned strong side facing him.

What happened next, to my mind, can only be attributed to the fact that I was OC.

As he drew parallel to me, he looked at me, looked at my firearm, looked at me again and stopped. He stared at me for about 5 seconds (I think) and I kinda stared back. He turned around and went back to the car, getting in the passenger seat. He got his cell phone, and ten seconds later the guy in the store came walking out. He looked at me as he passed by but didn't say anything. He got in the car and they left.

I went into the store to talk to the clerk, a very nice Arab fellow. He knows me, as I OC there frequently.

Azmat: I think those guys were rob me.

Me: I agree.

Azmat: You scare them off?

Me: I didn't say a word to them.

Azmat: Your gun scare them off.

Me: Perhaps. You should call the police and report this.

Azmat: Yes, I will. You stay and talk to them too?

Me: Sure.

He called the police and ten minutes later they arrived. I was standing outside with Azmat.

Officer 1: That's going to stay in its holster, right? Me: It typically does unless I tell it otherwise.

Officer 2: Ok no problem, youre not gonna see any Canton PD shit out of us.

Me: It's nice to see that some of the good guys really ARE good guys.

Officer 2: Yeah, so what happened?

We told them the story, and Azmat showed them the tape.

Officer 1: They were definately going to hit the place. However since no crime was actually committed, the best we can do is look for them and see if we hit anything when we pull them over. You guys did great.

Officer 2 (to me): You should submit this to the NRA armed citizen column. We can corroborate your story.

Me: Thanks, I may do that. You guys be extra safe going after these losers.

Both of them: Will do, you guys have a good night.

That was a very interesting night for me. Nobody got hurt, and I met some really good officers. __________________

In over 30 years of concealed carry I’ve had this experience a few times. If you are alert and willing to inject yourself into a potential dangerous position, you will eventually scare away a few bad guy’s....

My prefered method of concealed carry is an outside tight holster on my belt, with a light jacket or shirt, it can be easily exposed when conditions require. I’ve only had to draw the weapon twice.

5
posted on 09/11/2011 4:47:57 AM PDT
by nevergore
("It could be that the purpose of my life is simply to serve as a warning to others.")

Hey Berlin. Now that we are buds, I wanted to point out a story in which I *REALLY LIKE* the behavior of these police officers. Great guys. Wonderful attitudes. More cops like this and less like the other kind, and there will be zero objections from me. :)

7
posted on 09/11/2011 4:50:53 AM PDT
by Lazamataz
(If Hitler had been as lazy as Obama, the 1940's would have been a very nice decade!!)

Yesterday the California legislature made open carry illegal. The bill has yet to be signed by Moonbeam, but I don’t feel good about it.
Are you allowed to open carry loaded? We have to carry unloaded, which is kind of pointless.

I can carry my clip in a pocket, but it can’t be where it belongs unless I have the gun out and intend on using it. I hope Moonbeam vetos this. If there is a demonstration, I would be tempted to join in.

Yesterday the California legislature made open carry illegal. The bill has yet to be signed by Moonbeam, but I dont feel good about it.

Actually it may be a good thing if he does; the CA courts have been rejecting the challenges to the constitutionality of the State's shall-issue CCW policies... by citing that Open Carry is a legal alternative.

With the illegalization of Open Carry this is non longer true. Furthermore, it is the State saying that it can regulate who may bear weapons at all. Therefore, BOTH the OC and CCW laws can be challenged at once as contra-Constitutional; [even] furthermore, the legislature (and Gov) passing/signing this into law would be Felons:

US CODE, TITLE 18, PART I, CHAPTER 13, § 241. Conspiracy against rights
If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment
of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same; or
If two or more persons go in disguise on the highway, or on the premises of another, with intent to prevent or hinder his free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege so secured
They shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include
kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, they shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for
any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.

And

US CODE, TITLE 18, PART I, CHAPTER 13, § 242. Deprivation of rights under color of law

Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or to different punishments, pains, or penalties, on account of such person being an alien, or by reason of his color, or race, than are prescribed for the punishment of citizens, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.

Sorry about § 242, but it really is formatted as a giant block of text. *bleh*

30
posted on 09/12/2011 3:21:29 PM PDT
by OneWingedShark
(Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)

Man, I love getting a tip like that. Like a gold dubloon washed up on the beach.

Any time, my FRiend. Keep in mind, however, that I've been away from Mem-fizz since 2004, and such customs and *flag* customs change over time. Note though that it was still the case circa 6 months before Katrina hit New Orleans, though I cannot say for how long it had also been the custom there, nor in which locale it originated- though I suspect New Orleans.

I actually called the governor’s office and made this very point to the person (she typed through gritted teeth) who answered. The whole time I was on the phone I heard rustling noises. I don’t even think she listened. Thanks for the citations. I downloaded the actual bill yesterday. There are an amazing number of exemptions including (although I may have read it wrong) membership in any 501c3 service organization. So, join Rotary and you’re home free.

>There are an amazing number of exemptions including (although I may have read it wrong) membership in any 501c3 service organization.

Irrelevant; also those broad exceptions are a de facto implementation of a law that is not uniformly applied, thusly violating the 14th Amendment’s “equal protection under the law” clause.

Furthermore, the 501c3 exemption makes me think there is a rat here for several reasons: first, doesn’t the government approve (and revoke) eligibility of 501c3 orgs? Second, do police unions (or some other blanket group) qualify? (If so, then that could just be an indirect way of saying “only police and government officials can have guns” once they do a little ‘trimming’ to the exemptions.)

39
posted on 09/13/2011 1:20:40 PM PDT
by OneWingedShark
(Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)

Man, I love getting a tip like that. Like a gold dubloon washed up on the beach.

No s**t. I'm pretty effing streetwise (my former involvement in narcotics got me an education so broad that I might actually fare a little better in most urban settings that you -- and I respect your abilities!) .... however I hadn't learned that 'hat trick' as a symbol yet.

41
posted on 09/13/2011 1:54:59 PM PDT
by Lazamataz
(If Hitler had been as lazy as Obama, the 1940's would have been a very nice decade!!)

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